Distressed that I couldn’t make it to the Ken Vandermark gig with Barry Guy and Mark Sanders this evening. I was really looking forward to hearing the two second cities coming together in the spirit of free playing, but life… Read More ›
CBSO Centre
CD reviews: 10-11-08
Julian Siegel Trio: Live at the Vortex (Basho) ***** I’ve been looking forward to this since first hearing this meeting of the British saxophonist with American bassist Greg Cohen and drummer Joey Baron at the Cheltenham festival in 2006 and… Read More ›
Concert review: Django Bates & stoRMChaser
CBSO Centre, Birmingham UK 17-10-08 ***** As Bates and his 15-piece Rhythmic Music Conservatory band from Copenhagen took the stage, his 12-year-old piece of mock financial headlines City in Euphoria – World in Chaos played through the PA. It was a… Read More ›
John on the radio tonight
If you missed the excellent gig by the John Escreet Group with David Binney earlier this month, you get another chance to hear it tonight. The concert at the CBSO Centre was recorded by the BBC and is broadcast on… Read More ›
Spring arrives today (Friday)
Spring Is Here (Shall We Dance?) is the name of the latest CD from composer and keyboard player Django Bates and stoRMChaser, the big band of musicians and singers he has assembled at Copenhagen’s Rhythmic Music Conservatory where he is… Read More ›
Brushing up on your intervals
Here’s how music should be taught! I’m not sure Django Bates was Professor at Rhythmic Music Conservatory when he wrote this but it’s an indication of just what fun his lessons must be. It’s from his album You Live and… Read More ›
Review: John Escreet Project
CBSO Centre, Birmingham 07-10-08 Just returned from a very impressive two sets by this young pianist and composer from Doncaster and his mainly New York-based band. Escreet is a strikingly original composer who never goes down the head-solos-head route. He… Read More ›